Annual influenza vaccination: offering protection beyond infection.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in the world, is largely preventable. An increasing amount of evidence suggests that annual vaccination with inactivated influenza vaccine reduces morbidity and mortality associated with CVD; however, immunization rates in patients with CVD fall consistently below the goals established by Healthy People 2020. This review outlines the importance of vaccination and summarizes the available literature on the role of seasonal influenza vaccination and the incidence of coronary artery disease and stroke.